Which Pitchers were Squeezed the most in 2011?

The league averaged about 78.8% of called strikes within the PitchFX defined zone.  While this may seem extremely low, many of the missed called strikes that contribute to this percentage are borderline strikes on the edges of the zone.  Still, it is somewhat disconcerting that some pitchers are getting less that 75% of the calls within the zone.

Josh Outman has had it worse than any other pitcher this season, receiving only 66.7% of the calls within the strike zone. 

Josh Outman Called Balls within the Strike Zone, 2011

Granted, Outman has only faced 254 batters in 2011, bouncing between starter and reliever for the A's towards the end of the season.  Still, in nearly 50 of those 254 plate appearances, Outman has been the recipient of at least one missed strike call by the umpire.

We'll take a look at which pitchers in 2011 received the most called strikes out of the strike zone next....

Matsui Godzilla Again

Hideki Matsui of the Oakland Athletics found his stroke after the all-star break.   After a 4 for 6 on Thursday, he's hitting .432 after a .209 first half.  His pitch selection improved, as you can see in his swing rate.

Early in the season, Matsui seemed to chase pitches up and in:

Hideki Matsui, swing rate, 1st half of 2011.Note how his swing zone is vertical, as if pitchers were working him up the ladder.  The up and in area of the strike zone indicates he was swinging at pitches that were jamming him.  He wasn't making great contact:

Hideki Matsui, contact rate, 1st half of 2011.When he swung at pitches in the middle of the zone, he often missed them.

His swing selection became more horizontal in the second half:

Hideki Matsui, swing rate, 2nd half of 2011.He's now picking a level, and staying in that zone, rather than following pitches up.  His contact rate improved:

Hideki Matsui, contact rate, 2nd half of 2011.He was missing on 18% of his swings before the All-Star break, only 10% after.  Matsui swings at better pitches, makes better contact, and his batting average is reaping the benefits.

Mike Napoli's Month

Mike Napoli (TEX) has been the most productive hitter in the last month of baseball.  His .567 wOBA since July 6th leads the majors and is 85 points better Hideki Matsui (OAK) in second place on the list.

(Click to enlarge)Over that span, Napoli has drilled 8 home runs and 7 doubles, while walking 8 times in 80 PA.  His 11.1% HR rate also leads all players since July 6th.  His HR/FB rate of 29.6% is third behind only Marlins' Mike Stanton (39.1%) and Rays' Ben Zobrist (30.0%).